Laughter is Contagious

People do not smile in Delhi. Everyone is flat faced work machine running out of time.The physical existence do not coincide with the mental existence which makes people emotionless. And in buses and metro, when you see people's faces, they look like masks without any emotions. One day this man comes out of nowhere and changes everything. This man, in his 60s, boards a bus and gets to a seat. He than takes out his smartphone and starts pressing some buttons in the screen, then he starts laughing out loud. He is focused on his phone and is laughing his stomach out. Everyone around him are taken aback, distracted from their chain of thoughts and brought back to reality. They give him an annoyed look and try to ignore. But the old man laughs only louder. His laughter seems uncontrollable and genuine. Suddenly a young man sitting next to him, giggles. He tries hard to resist but can't restrain. Then the next person and another and another, and in no time everyone in the bus are laughing out loud uncontrollably, trying hard to resist. They don't have reason, situation or logic for that laughter, but it makes everyone feel joyous and alive. They are now, where they are standing. There is no stress anymore and they feel more energetic. They feel good about themselves, there is all positive vibe in the bus. People start talking with each other and share their part of story with each other. Everyone seems satisfied and happy.

The old man gets off that bus and climbs into another. He gets to a seat, takes out his smartphone and starts pressing some buttons in the screen. Then he starts out loud....

The old beggar

Few years back, during my ITT program, I had to travel to Gazipur everyday. Since I used to stay in Laxminagar, I had to change bus from Patpargunj. There were small stalls of Rs. 1 per glass drinking water, where I used to satisfy my thirst while I wait for the bus. Every day an old man would approach the people waiting for the bus begging for some money. He used to be half naked up to the waist, with his dark red skin showing with crooked back and shabby looks. He would approach everyone and ask for money but would get only disappointment as most people there would just ignore his plea.
During 30 days of training I saw him begging everyday but never was even a bit generous to provide some money for him. I just used to think about the differences in people's life and the decisions they take which makes the difference. I only had pity for him. After my training days were over, I never took that route and never saw that old beggar again until yesterday. Yesterday when I got to the Patpargunj bus stop I remembered the old beggar and looked around for him but didn't find him anywhere. I inquired about the old man with a little boy in the water stall, who now sells a glass of water for Rs. 5 to find that the old man died of cold last winter.